How long does a first aid certificate last? For most workplace first aid courses in the UK, it lasts three years from the date on the certificate. After that, your first aider has to requalify. If they don’t, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) no longer counts them as a workplace first aider.
This catches a lot of employers out. Each course renews in its own way. Some sectors have extra rules. And a certificate that runs out on a Friday leaves you without cover on Monday. This guide explains how long each certificate lasts, what to do before it runs out and what renewal costs at our training centre in Warmley, Bristol.
Key takeaways
- First Aid at Work and Emergency First Aid at Work certificates last three years from the date on the certificate.
- HSE says that once a certificate has run out, that person no longer counts as a workplace first aider.
- First Aid at Work holders renew with a two day requalification course. Emergency First Aid at Work holders take the one day course again.
- The annual refresher keeps skills sharp. It does not make the certificate last any longer.
- Nurseries and other early years settings in England must renew paediatric first aid training every three years.
- Book renewals two to three months before the expiry date, so a full course or a sick day doesn’t leave you short.
In this guide
- How long does a first aid certificate last in the UK?
- How long does a first aid certificate last for each course?
- What happens when a first aid certificate expires?
- Requalification or annual refresher, which do you need?
- How to renew a first aid certificate before it runs out
- How long a first aid certificate lasts in schools, nurseries and care
- What does it cost to renew a first aid certificate?
- FAQs about how long a first aid certificate lasts
- Book your first aid renewal with Acorn
How long does a first aid certificate last in the UK?
A workplace first aid certificate lasts three years. HSE guidance says first aiders need to take a requalification course before their certificate runs out. This gives them a new certificate for another three years. You can read the guidance on the HSE “Are you a first aider?” page.
The three years start from the date printed on the certificate. That is usually the last day of the course, when the person passes their assessment. It is not the date you booked or paid.
The law behind this is the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981. It says every employer must provide “adequate and appropriate” first aid equipment, facilities and people. If the people you rely on have certificates that have run out, your cover may not be good enough any more. That is true even if they still remember most of their training.
[Image: A first aid trainer at Acorn’s Warmley training centre handing a delegate a new certificate at the end of a course. Alt: Delegate receiving a new first aid certificate that lasts three years at Acorn Health and Safety in Bristol]How long does a first aid certificate last for each course?
Most first aid certificates last three years. The way you renew them depends on the course. This table shows the courses employers ask us about most.
| Course | How long it lasts | How you renew it | Course length at Acorn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emergency First Aid at Work (FA01) | 3 years | Take the same course again | 1 day |
| First Aid at Work (FA02) | 3 years | Requalification course (FA03) before it runs out | 3 days |
| First Aid at Work Annual Refresher (FA04) | Does not extend your certificate | Recommended once a year between renewals | Half a day |
| Paediatric First Aid (Level 3 Award, 12 hours) | 3 years | Take the full course again | 12 hours (2 days) |
| Outdoor Paediatric First Aid (Level 3 Award, 16 hours) | 3 years | Take the full course again | 16 hours |
How long does an Emergency First Aid at Work certificate last?
An Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) certificate lasts three years. There is no shorter version for renewing it, because the course only takes one day. Your first aider just books onto the Emergency First Aid at Work course again before their certificate runs out.
How long does a First Aid at Work certificate last?
A full First Aid at Work (FAW) certificate also lasts three years. But FAW holders don’t need to sit all three days again. If they renew in time, they can take our two day First Aid at Work requalification course.
The course covers CPR, using a defibrillator, choking, heavy bleeding, head injuries and broken bones. It also covers illnesses like asthma, anaphylaxis, stroke and heart attacks. Pass it and you get a new certificate that lasts another three years.
Please bring your original FAW certificate so we can check it. It doesn’t matter who trained you the first time. It could have been St John Ambulance, a college or another provider.
How long does a paediatric first aid certificate last?
A paediatric first aid certificate lasts three years. For early years settings in England, renewing it is the law, not just good practice. We explain this in the sector section below. To renew, staff take a full paediatric first aid course again. Forest school and outdoor staff usually renew with our longer outdoor paediatric first aid course.
FREC 3 and mental health first aid
Our FREC 3 (First Response Emergency Care Level 3) course also needs renewing every three years.
Mental health first aid works a little differently. It isn’t a certificate under the 1981 regulations. MHFA England recommends a refresher to keep your skills up to date, and our Mental Health First Aid refresher course is built for that. If you’re not sure where you stand, call us and we’ll check for you.
[Image: Delegates practising CPR on training dummies during a first aid at work requalification course. Alt: First aiders practising CPR on a requalification course before their first aid certificate runs out]What happens when a first aid certificate expires?
When a first aid certificate expires, that person stops counting as one of your workplace first aiders. HSE guidance is clear on this. Once a certificate has run out, the first aider is no longer seen as competent to act in that role.
So if your first aid needs assessment says you need two first aiders, and one certificate runs out, you now only have one.
Is there a grace period after a first aid certificate expires?
Don’t count on one. HSE guidance doesn’t give a grace period. Some awarding bodies still let a First Aid at Work holder take the shorter requalification course if they are only just past their expiry date. But during that gap, they are not a qualified first aider. If the certificate has been out of date for longer, they will usually need the full three day course again.
The simple rule is to requalify before the date on the certificate. If your first aider has already missed it, call us on 0117 958 2070 with their certificate details. We’ll tell you which course they need.
Can someone with an expired certificate still help in an emergency?
Yes. Anyone can help a person who is hurt or taken ill. But they can’t fill a first aider role in your needs assessment or on your rota. After an accident, an out of date certificate would also be hard to explain to HSE or your insurer.
What it means for you as an employer
The duty to provide first aid cover sits with you, not with the first aider. So keep a simple record of who is trained and when each certificate runs out. If you’d rather hand that job over, our Hassle Free health and safety service can track training dates for you, along with the rest of your health and safety paperwork.
Requalification or annual refresher, which do you need?
People mix these two courses up all the time. Part of the reason is that some providers call the requalification a “refresher”. At Acorn they are two separate courses with two different jobs.
| FAW Requalification (FA03) | FAW Annual Refresher (FA04) | |
|---|---|---|
| What it’s for | Renewing a First Aid at Work certificate for another three years | Keeping skills fresh between renewals |
| Length | 2 days (12 hours) | Half a day |
| Do you get a new certificate? | Yes, it lasts three years | No |
| When to book | Two to three months before the certificate runs out | Once a year, in years one and two |
| Do you have to do it? | Yes, if that person is to stay a FAW first aider | No, but HSE strongly recommends it |
Most first aiders never have to use their training at work. That’s good news, but it means skills fade over three years. This is why HSE strongly recommends a refresher every year. Our First Aid at Work annual refresher takes half a day. It is open to anyone with an FAW or EFAW certificate that is still in date.
How to renew a first aid certificate before it runs out
Renewing a first aid certificate on time is mostly about planning ahead. Here are the steps we suggest.
- List every first aider and their expiry date. A simple spreadsheet is fine. Note the course level (EFAW, FAW or paediatric) and the date on each certificate.
- Check what your needs assessment says. Your team may have grown, moved or changed shifts since last time. A quick first aid needs assessment shows whether you still need the same number of first aiders at the same level.
- Pick the right course. FAW holders take the two day requalification. EFAW and paediatric holders take their course again. If you’re not sure, read our guide to which first aid course your workplace legally needs.
- Book two to three months before the expiry date. Courses fill up, and people get ill or go on holiday. Check our open course dates early so you have a backup date.
- Bring the original certificate. For FAW requalification, we need to see the old certificate before we can give you a new one.
- Update your records straight away. Write down the new expiry date and set a reminder for two to three months before it. Acorn also sends you a reminder before your certificate runs out.
- Book the annual refreshers. Plan a half day refresher in years one and two. That way nobody turns up to requalify after three years without practice.
Got first aiders due for renewal this year? Call 0117 958 2070 or send us your list of names and expiry dates. We’ll suggest the quickest way to get everyone renewed.
How long a first aid certificate lasts in schools, nurseries and care
The three year rule applies everywhere. But some sectors have extra rules on top.
Nurseries and early years settings
Early years providers in England must follow the EYFS statutory framework. It says at least one person with a current paediatric first aid certificate must be on site whenever children are there. That person must also go on outings. The framework also says paediatric first aid training must be renewed every three years.
Newly qualified staff with a level 2 or level 3 early years qualification also need a current paediatric first aid certificate. Without it, they can’t count in your staff to child ratios. So for nurseries, preschools and childminders, one expired certificate can affect your ratios on the day. See our childcare health and safety support for more.
Schools
Schools follow the same HSE rules for staff first aiders, so EFAW and FAW certificates last three years. Primary schools with nursery or reception classes will usually need paediatric first aiders too. Our education sector page lists the training we run for schools, including medication and anaphylaxis courses.
Care homes and health and social care
Care providers with staff working day and night have more first aiders and more dates to track. Inspectors look at training records. So spread your renewals out, rather than letting everyone’s certificate run out in the same month. Our health and social care page lists the courses we run for care teams.
Construction, manufacturing and other higher risk sites
Higher risk workplaces usually need the full First Aid at Work course. On these sites, one expired certificate can leave a whole shift without cover. We work with construction and trades businesses and manufacturing and engineering firms across the South West. We can run requalification at your site, so the whole team renews together.
[Image: Nursery staff practising baby CPR on a training dummy during a paediatric first aid course. Alt: Nursery workers renewing a paediatric first aid certificate, which lasts three years under the EYFS]What does it cost to renew a first aid certificate?
We show our open course prices so you can plan your budget before you call. Prices are per person, don’t include VAT and are for places on our courses at our Warmley training centre, eight miles from Bath.
| Course | Code | Length | Price per person (ex VAT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emergency First Aid at Work | FA01 | 1 day | £105 |
| First Aid at Work | FA02 | 3 days | £237 |
| First Aid at Work Requalification | FA03 | 2 days | £175 |
This is why timing matters. If a First Aid at Work holder renews in time, the two day requalification costs £175. If their certificate runs out and they have to do the full course, it costs £237. It also takes an extra day away from work. For a team of five first aiders, that’s £310 more in fees and five extra days off the job.
If you have several people to renew, training at your own workplace is usually cheaper per person. We can run first aid training at your premises anywhere in the UK. The price depends on numbers, location and the course, so call us for a quote. You can see every course we run on our first aid courses page.
FAQs about how long a first aid certificate lasts
How long does a first aid certificate last in the UK?
Workplace first aid certificates last three years from the date on the certificate. This includes First Aid at Work and Emergency First Aid at Work. Paediatric first aid certificates also last three years. Your first aider must renew before the expiry date to keep counting as a workplace first aider.
Do the three years start from the course date or the date I passed?
They start from the date on your certificate. That is usually the last day of the course, when you passed your assessment.
Can I renew my first aid certificate after it has expired?
Sometimes, but don’t plan on it. HSE doesn’t give a grace period, and you are not a qualified first aider during any gap. If your First Aid at Work certificate ran out more than a short time ago, you’ll usually need the full three day course again. Call us and we’ll check.
Does an annual refresher change how long a first aid certificate lasts?
No. The annual refresher keeps your skills up to date, but your certificate still runs out three years after it was issued. Only requalification (for FAW) or taking the course again (for EFAW and paediatric) gives you a new certificate.
How long does a first aid certificate last if I requalify early?
Your new certificate lasts three years from the date of your requalification course, not from your old expiry date. So if you renew a year early, you lose that year. Booking two to three months ahead gets the balance right.
How long does a first aid certificate last for nursery and childcare staff?
Paediatric first aid certificates last three years. The EYFS framework says paediatric first aid training must be renewed every three years. Early years settings in England need at least one person with a current certificate on site whenever children are there.
Can I do first aid at work requalification online?
No. Requalification includes practical skills like CPR, using a defibrillator and bandaging, and you are assessed doing them. Our First Aid at Work requalification is a two day classroom course. You can do it at our Warmley centre or we can run it at your workplace.
Will Acorn remind me when my certificate is due?
Yes. Everyone who trains with us gets a reminder before their certificate runs out, so there is time to book the right course.
Can I requalify with Acorn if I trained with someone else?
Yes. We welcome first aiders who first trained with St John Ambulance, a college or any other recognised provider. Just bring your original First Aid at Work certificate so we can check it.
Book your first aid renewal with Acorn
Now you know how long a first aid certificate lasts, check the dates on your team’s certificates today. If any run out in the next six months, it’s time to book.
Acorn Health and Safety is a Qualsafe registered centre at Tower Lane Business Park in Warmley, Bristol. We train more than 18,000 people a year. Our first aid courses are designed to meet the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981. You can book an open course online, or talk to our team about training at your workplace.
Call us on 0117 958 2070, email [email protected] or request a callback. We’ll help you keep every first aider in date.
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